A Beacon on the Hill in Garland
For generations, Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church has stood on Highway 66 in Garland, Texas, where it is known simply as The Mount. The congregation gathers each week from Garland and the surrounding communities of Rowlett, Richardson, Mesquite, and the greater Dallas area, drawn by a reputation for strong Bible-based teaching, vibrant worship, and a multigenerational family feel. The motto under which the church operates is "Building a Legacy of Faith, From Generation to Generation," and the whole shape of its ministry - from the nursery through seniors' care groups - is built around that idea.
Sundays at The Mount
A typical Sunday at The Mount begins at 8:30 AM with Sunday School for adults, youth in grades 6 through 12, and children from Pre-K through fifth grade. The main worship service follows at 10:00 AM and runs until about 11:45 AM, with vibrant, engaging congregational worship leading into strong Bible-based preaching. Services last roughly 90 minutes and are designed to give every generation a place to encounter Jesus together.
Visitors are encouraged to come as they are. Dress runs the spectrum from smart casual to business attire, with a small note that people tend to dress up a bit more on the first Sunday of the month. A welcome team stands ready to greet newcomers, help with kids' check-in, and answer questions. Sign language interpreting for the deaf and hard-of-hearing is offered on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of each month. On the second Sunday of the month, kids and youth join the congregation in the Sanctuary for Family Worship, sometimes leading the praise themselves before taking their seats with their parents.
Kids: From Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Children's ministry at The Mount begins in the nursery, where babies from 5 to 17 months are introduced to Jesus through play-based lessons and tender care. Toddlers from 18 months to 2 years, preschoolers from age 3 through kindergarten, and elementary children in first through fifth grade each move up through age-appropriate classrooms that introduce them to Jesus, teach them Bible truths they can carry into everyday life, and help them build friendships.
On Sundays, children in Pre-K through fifth grade have Sunday School at 8:30 AM and Children's Church during the 10:00 AM worship hour. The 2nd Sunday Family Worship pulls them into the Sanctuary alongside their parents. On Wednesday evenings during the school year, the AWANA program runs from 6:30 PM with dinner served first, followed by games, activities, and Bible teaching for all ages. Every volunteer who works with children is background-checked and trained, and the secure KidCheck check-in system keeps families at ease from the moment they arrive. Parents can also pre-register their children online to save time on the first visit.
Youth: Middle School and High School
Middle school and high school students, grades 6 through 12, have their own dedicated track at The Mount. Sunday School meets at 8:30 AM, and a separate Youth Service is offered during the 10:00 AM hour, with small group discussions, heartfelt worship, and biblical teaching that helps students discover their purpose in Christ. On the second Sunday of the month, youth join the Sanctuary for Family Worship and help lead the praise.
Wednesday nights bring students back together through AWANA at 6:30 PM, where in-depth Bible discussion and intentional discipleship take place in a fun, engaging small group setting. Adult mentors walk alongside students, and opportunities to serve range from youth choir to other servant leadership roles.
Men's and Women's Ministry
Men at The Mount gather for Bible studies and small groups, fellowship events, mentorship, and leadership development. The aim is to build real brotherhood among husbands, fathers, and leaders who follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Women's ministry centers on Bible studies and small groups, fellowship events, mentorship, and seasonal gatherings and retreats, with the goal of helping women grow in God's Word, encourage one another through every season of life, and step into the purpose God has placed in them. Both ministries offer a Starting Point pathway for getting involved.
Life Groups, Bible Studies, and Care Groups
The small group life of the church is built around Life Groups, which meet weekly or bi-weekly in homes or at the church. Groups focus on biblical teaching, prayer, mutual support, and serving together, and there is a group for every stage of life, whether single, married, or raising kids. In addition, Bible studies meet throughout the week, covering book-by-book study of Scripture and topical studies on marriage, parenting, finances, and other subjects.
For those walking through grief, loss, illness, or major life transitions, Care Groups provide a focused, supportive community. These groups are designed as a safe place to find encouragement and healing in God's love during difficult seasons, and inquiries can be directed to the church office.
Starting Point: The On-Ramp
For newcomers, Starting Point is a three-week series of one-hour classes offered every other month, with childcare provided. Class 1, "Encountering Jesus," introduces the church's history, mission, and values. Class 2, "Growing Together," explores discipleship through Life Groups, Bible Studies, and men's and women's ministry. Class 3, "Impacting the World," looks at prayer, generosity, serving, and outreach, and includes a personal gifts assessment, with the opportunity to pursue church membership at the end of the class.
What The Mount Believes
The church's foundational truths center on a traditional evangelical understanding of the Christian faith. Members believe in the Trinity - one God co-existing in three equal persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Bible is held to be the verbally inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, the final authority in every area of life and knowledge.
Salvation is understood through Christ's substitutionary death on the cross: believers are redeemed by grace and justified by faith in His blood, with regeneration happening once and for all and bringing eternal security. Sanctification is described as the ongoing process of becoming holy, empowered continuously by the Holy Spirit. The church also looks forward to the Second Coming of Christ and the rapture of believers as the climax of the present age.
Mission and Values
The mission of The Mount is to lead people to encounter Jesus, grow together, and impact the world for God, building a legacy of faith from generation to generation. Six core values shape everything the church does: Bible-based teaching, vibrant worship, authentic fellowship, cheerful generosity, dependent prayer, and compassionate impact. Each value is rooted in specific passages of Scripture that the church points to as its foundation.
Community Assistance and Generosity
The church maintains a Community Assistance ministry that neighbors can reach through an online form, and giving is welcomed in three ways: online (one-time or recurring), in person during Sunday worship, or by mail. Every dollar supports Sunday worship for all ages, kids and student programming, Life Groups and Bible Studies, community outreach, missions and evangelism, and the facilities that serve future generations.
Leadership
Senior Pastor André Kirkland, who also goes by Pastor Andre', leads the church and preaches most weeks. The pastoral team includes WFA Pastor Amos Saint-Jean. Kim Vallair serves as Children and Youth Director, overseeing the nursery through high school ministries. The church is led by an experienced staff team that includes Executive Church Administrator Marilyn Brown, Operations Manager Kent Pearson, accountant and finance personnel, project and ministry coordinators, and facility team members who keep the campus running.
Stay Connected
Worship services are livestreamed each Sunday and a growing archive of sermons is available online, including recent messages from Pastor Andre' Kirkland, Dr. Phillip Pointer, Dr. Sipho Mhlanga, Rev. Frederick Johnson, Rev. Dr. James Wilkes, and Rev. Eric Wesley. A mobile app, prayer request form, and calendar of upcoming events round out the ways to stay in touch between Sundays. Whether someone is new to faith, returning after time away, or looking for a church home, The Mount Church on Highway 66 in Garland is set up to help every generation encounter Jesus, grow together, and impact the world for God.